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Medical schools join together to transform medical education

Jun 8, 2017

Milwaukee, June 8, 2017 – Changes in health care nationwide have created a need for medical schools to respond with innovative methods to prepare physicians to meet the new demands of the profession. Seven medical schools across the country are driving catalytic change in how physicians learn through the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education (Kern Institute). The Kern Institute was established to prepare physicians from pre-med through practice to apply the Triple Aim for Medical Education: Character, Competence and Caring. These elements of physician development are critical to partnering with patients, families, and communities for compassionate, evidence-based care, delivered with integrity.

"Collaboration is essential for transformation. MCW and the National Transformation Network are committed to building on each other's strengths to drive innovations, leverage resources and advance nationwide change in medical education from pre-medical instruction through physician practice," said John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, president and CEO of MCW. "Our goal is to redefine medical education through the development of the Triple Aim for Medical Education that parallels and complements the Triple Aim for Health Care."

The Triple Aim for Health Care (enhancing patient experience, improving population health, and reducing cost) is widely accepted as the key to optimizing health system performance and reducing the burden of suffering from illness and disease. The Kern Institute will lead a national movement to transform medical education by proposing an equally important Triple Aim for Medical Education: character, competence and caring.

"A healthier world starts with new knowledge, ideas and approaches to innovative patient care," said Joseph E. Kerschner, MD, dean of the school of medicine and executive vice president of MCW and Chair-Elect of the Council of Deans for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). "The Kern Institute will transform medical education for future medical students to become compassionate partners in health care, as well as trusted providers."

The formation of the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education (Kern Institute) was announced by John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW).

MCW received a philanthropic gift of $37.8M from the Kern Family and the Kern Family Foundation to establish the Kern Institute.

"On behalf of the Kern Family and the Kern Family Foundation, we are incredibly proud of our partnerships with MCW and the National Transformation Network medical schools throughout the country that led to the vision and launch of the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education," said Jim Rahn, president of the Kern Family Foundation. "We strongly believe that this collaboration provides a singular opportunity for us to have a lasting impact on medical education and securing quality and compassionate health care for all of us in the future."

The total initial investment in the Kern Institute is $52.5M, including the gift from the Kern family and the Kern Family Foundation, as well as contributions from MCW, National Transformation Network partner medical schools, and other philanthropic support.